Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

"Since when did I take relationship advice from you."

"Since you get to hold your mate in bed every night. Just calm the fuck down Jace, you'd know if she was injured. Besides, she's a tough cookie Cleo, you need to give her more credit. Fucking scared the shit out of me when she tried to threaten me." It sounded good to have my brother laugh.

"Threaten you, when?"

"When I found out she was pregnant, I might have dressed up and pretended to

be you..."

"What, when was this?" I have to fight against my urge to slam the breaks down to give the conversation my full attention, I needed to get home.

"You had just arrived with Callie, I knew...I knew you loved her, I was just trying to bide you some time. But she fucking knew, she knew it was me."

"Well the missing tats will do that."

"No, she knew, I was covered from head to toe. She wouldn't have done something to put her and your baby's life in danger. Just hear her out before you start pointing the finger."

Why is this the first I am hearing of Jaxon pretending to be me. Shit, I'm surprised Cleo didn't give him a black eye. She's innocent and squeaky clean...until you really get to know her. The privilege my siblings and I have had for all her life. Now I get to call her mine.

"I didn't know that, thank you brother."

"I knew you just needed time."

My heart warms before it is replaced with guilt. He went to great lengths to stop Cleo making decisions that would take her from me, he bought me time before I woke the fuck up.

But now his own mate could be bleeding out and I can't fucking help him.

never felt

knee even bobbing as we drove into the Clear Water's gates, my foot not letting off the gas pedal until we were outside of the

rip the car door open, that urge to see her completely taking

trust myself not to react and

I scream out her name through the mind-link, pushing through any barriers she may have put

towards me from the front door. "Jace!" She screams out,

nose into the crook of her neck, letting her scent calm me and

fuck were

can explain, I didn't want her going alone. I

her feet back down on the ground, clutching

important things to me, you do not do anything...no matter what

I understand but...I'm glad

won't

done."

eyes moving to

BUMS

to me

grunts out before heading into the alpha

Did you

lip. A move that has my thumb pulling her lower lip from

rogue camp in

guessing her with

was a waste of

I sigh out, pulling her into

"What?"